Nevada’s brewpubs come together on the capitol steps to support local beer

The Nevada brewpub* law proposal to increase brewpubs’ yearly production allowance to unlimited died before making it to the Nevada house or senate. But the 2015 Legislative Brewfest event meant to support the bill did not.

“I think we were a little bit late to the table when trying to pass SB139,” said Jim Phalan, owner of High Sierra Brewing Co. and member of the Nevada Craft Brewer’s Association.

The NCBA members hired the law firm Snell & Wilmer to help lobby for the bill and presented it to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Energy. But if bills don’t receive votes to add them to the legislative agenda for the session, it becomes very difficult or impossible to introduce them later.

Jim said the NCBA members learned a lot about the legal process and now have two years to plan for the next legislative session in 2017. He said the legislators didn’t know much about the craft brewing community in Nevada, and in fact, didn’t realize it even existed before the brewpub owners presented testimony to the bill this year. Making lawmakers aware of the growing industry will help brewpubs in the future.

On Wednesday, brewpubs from all over Nevada will set up free tastings for the legislators and the public in front of the Firkin & Fox in downtown Carson City. Though the event is meant primarily to show off Nevada’s brewing community to the legislators, it is free and open to the public. Food will be available for purchase.

2015 Legislative Brewfest

*Note about brewpubs: A “brewpub” is any brewery with a tasting room. All breweries in Northern Nevada, except Great Basin’s Taps & Tanks, are considered “brewpubs” by law and can only produce 15,000 barrels of beer per year. Breweries without a tasting room can produce an unlimited amount of beer.

What: A chance for brewpubs in Nevada to show off their craft beer to the Nevada legislatorsWhen: Wednesday, May 6 at 4 p.m.Where: Firkin & Fox, 310 S Carson St. #100, Carson City, NV 89701Price: Free